Are you looking forward to enjoying some great American movies that are not necessarily action-packed and consist of enriching stories and characters? Check the films given below.
Most people around the world associate Marvel and DC-based superhero movies when it comes to American flicks, but the film industry expands to many more options. Other than the action movies and heavy VFX and CGI, there are plenty of movies in the industry that can intrigue you and stir your deeper emotions from inside. The indie films in America are capable of standing out among the collection of commercial movies with their superior stories and the acting skills of the artists. Let’s find some of the best indie films of the 21st Century that everyone needs to watch.
- Requiem for a Dream – 2000
This film by Darren Aronofsky is one of the best psychological thrillers in America, which is uneasy, realistic, and offers an impactful aftertaste even after it ends. The stunning sophomore movie by the director showcases the extreme effects of drug addiction and where it can lead. The fundamental idea of using and going to any extent for that is well depicted in the movie, and the best part is that it shows all kinds of addiction and users of all ages. Jared Leto’s incredible acting seems faded beside Ellen Burstyn’s magnificent performance, which helped her receive an Oscar nomination. It is a disturbingly good movie that you can enjoy.
- Ghost World – 2001
It feels kind of wild when you see Scarlett Johansson and Thora Birch with classic haircuts in an American movie that starts with an Indian song in the intro, and Birch is dancing to the ‘Hindi’ track from the movie ‘Gumnam’. Pretty wild, isn’t it? This attempt by director Terry Zwigoff is filled with immersive moments of comedy and emotions that slash through American consumerist culture. It also showcases the transition from high school girls to becoming a woman who knows better. It is an absolute feel-good movie that can make you feel nostalgic and happy at the same time.
- 25th Hour – 2002
Spike Lee’s direction is well known for imitating life, and ‘25th Hour’ is the perfect example of that. This movie is more like a love letter to New York City, where Edward Norton played the character of a heroin dealer. He is about to go in for a seven-year jail sentence, and before that, he is enjoying the last day of freedom with two of his best friends and his girlfriend. This film is less about the story and more about the conversations where the characters talk about various intriguing topics based on America and New York, which includes Brooklyn Italians, Park Avenue rich people, immigrant cabbies, Korean grocers, and the list goes on!
- Lost in Translation – 2003
‘Lost in Translation’ is one of the most sublime and comforting cinemas, which showcases complex inner worlds that we hide within ourselves. This film by Sofia Coppola is incredibly executed with beautiful cinematography that takes place against the backdrop of Tokyo. Humans find themselves sharing their deep inner selves in the strange environments, and that chemistry takes place here between Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray. Both of them are lonely in a city where nobody understands or knows them, and it is pretty easy to get lost in the translation.
- Before Sunset – 2004
This is the second installment from the ‘Before Trilogy’, which is a masterpiece work by director Richard Linklater. Linklater is best known for making movies that offer bigger slices of life, and this movie is the best example of that. The Euro-romance that develops in the first installment takes the next step in ‘Before Sunset’, the sequel that was released after 9 years. The chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy is truly remarkable since both of them act so naturally. Purely raw emotions and engaging conversations in the backdrop of Europe are truly very romantic, and that display of romance is offered here with a poetic essence and maturity.
- Brokeback Mountain – 2005
A lot of you are homophobic people, and you need to fix your head with the fact that love exists among every gender, and if you can’t do it, then watch this movie. The main stars of this movie, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, are both straight men in real life, but they offered a magnificent depiction of romance between them through this heart-wrenching movie by Ang Lee. If you watch the movie, you will understand that it is not about a gay cowboy movie but more like a romantic movie between two people who cannot be together. The story of tragic romance is enough to bring tears to your eyes, and it brought three Oscar wins for the movie.
- ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ – 2006
The duo director, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, have done an incredible job with this movie that can bring a big smile to audiences’ faces. Some movies do not just talk about life, but they also show the path to living it well, and ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ is all about that. We all have a little Miss Sunshine in us who represents the inner child who is not afraid to listen to what the heart says. The movie showcases many immersive moments of joy, laughter, sadness, embarrassment, and finally winning it all because that is how life is, a mixing pot of all kinds of emotions. Steve Carell and 10-year-old Abigail Breslin offered the best acting, and the story will keep you hooked.
- Waitress – 2007
If you are looking for some bittersweet drama, then ‘Waitress’ is a must-watch for you, which is directed by Adrienne Shelly. ‘Waitress’ is a pretty simple story with big emotions, told with a camera that finds just the right perspective to make it funny, winsome, and sincere all at once. The movies showcase how budget has nothing to do with making a good movie, other than casting celebrities.
- ‘Wendy and Lucy’ – 2008
Kelly Reichardt has shown her creative vision as a director through this movie, which was released back in 2008. The character of Wendy can give you chills, the same kind of chills that John Wick would have given you if your dog gets lost in New York. The storyline here is not too big, and it is quite linear, but what makes it interesting is Wendy’s deep emotions and expressions. The movie is deliberately structured with a sense of tension that will keep you hooked to your seat. It is subtly done, and you can relate to the emotions of Wendy, who sometimes snaps on the darker side.
- ‘A Serious Man’ – 2009
This movie by Joel and Ethan Coen is one of the standout movies by the Coen Brothers that asks some of the most intriguing questions about life, god, and existence. The protagonist of the movie, Professor Larry Gopnik, asks the rabbis, ‘Why does God make us feel the questions, if he’s not going to give us any answers?’ and this question will hit you hard. God might not have the answer to that, but you have, and that is what makes us humans. This movie is a tribute to the Jewish Community by the directors, and it also consists of many philosophical aspects. Unfortunately, the Jews are currently committing a genocide against Palestine.
- ‘Blue Valentine’ – 2010
There is something about the romcoms that featured Ryan Gosling, and I know you feel it too. The 2010 film ‘Blue Valentine’ is the perfect example of that, where you can find Michelle Williams and Ryan. They offered an intense performance with their chemistry as a couple whose relationship curdles from idealism to resignation. They stayed together for this role and churned out the romance of working-class characters. Their love hits hard, and what hits even harder is their separation and falling apart. When Cidny tells Dean, ‘I’m so out of love with you,’ you can feel it inside your heart. The movies will bring back all the heartbroken feelings, but will also make you glad.
- ‘Margaret’ – 2011
Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Margaret’ is perhaps one of the best movies set in New York, where people are sharing collective trauma and growing together. This is a coming-of-age movie that shows us how to deal with trauma in a way that helps us grow properly but rapidly. The struggles of young adults and dealing with grief, as well as making friends at the lowest point in your life, are things that you can learn from Anna Paquin, the lead in the story. ‘Coming-of-age’ is such a shopworn genre label that it’s almost lost its meaning, but ‘Margaret’ is one of the few contemporary American indie films that fully emblemizes it, an ode to growing up in New York but also an invitation to perhaps leave it behind.
- Moonrise Kingdom – 2012
Every movie by Wes Anderson is a feel-good movie, and so is The Moonrise Kingdom, which fulfills all the Boy Scout dreams. Anderson is best known for his amazing sense of color and symmetry, as well as wholesome stories that can sweep audiences off their feet, and you will get all those elements in this movie. The characters of this movie are brilliantly portrayed with the 1960s setting, and you can see the charming outdoors of New England. In this story, kids act like adults while adults act like kids. The movie sincerely creates a story that can inspire others to follow their dreams. Critics claim that executing an independent film at this level is as unlikely as finding the perfect summer romance. This movie is just another stepping stone for Anderson.
- Spring Breakers – 2013
Spring Breakers is a perfect example from which series like ‘Euphoria’ are inspired. This small budget movie by director Harmony Korine is one of the significant specimens of the 211st century that showcases the mind-bending monotony of adulthood and to what extent a troubled young person goes to fulfill their bad decisions. It is a twisted fairytale of bikinis and summer parties, which takes a dark turn. The movie had only $5 million budget, yet it managed to cast Selena Gomez, Gucci Mane, James Franco, and many others. Skrillex has also contributed to making the background score for the movie.
- ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’ – 2014
Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, this movie is often addressed as the first Iranian vampire film, which is in Persian, in California’s central valley. This Black and White movie falls into the horror genre, and it offers a stylish new setting that is quite captivating. It is also one of the stand-out movies in the list of female-directed horror films due to its production, direction, and cinematography. There are plenty of Western influences in the movie, yet it does not feel like a typical American movie, but more like an indie work that transcends regions and languages.
- Tangerine – 2015
‘Tangerine’ is definitely a bold take by director Sean Baker that showcases the life of two trans girls who are hustling in the streets of LA. It is not just a queer-friendly movie but also an audacious exploration of the boundaries of indie film and breaking them. The entire movie is shot on an iPhone, and the raw visuals go pretty well with the concept of the movie. While Hollywood tends to cast celebrities for every role, Sean assigned actual trans women to the roles, which is the best decision to bring the story to life and also make a statement in the pseudo industry.
- Moonlight – 2016
Moonlight is perhaps the first movie on a Black gay love story that is not explored in the movie industry. The movie secured the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar thanks to the funds of the first film’s influential indie distributor A24. This is the second movie by Barry Jenkins, and he has nailed it by making this simple yet impactful movie that leaves a lingering aftertaste. It is an adaptation of the play ‘In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue’, and the director did justice to the story. It is a story of a young queer Black man navigating through life while the director creates a tidal wave of emotions.
- Lady Bird – 2017
Director Greta Gerwig has made a ton of great movies other than Barbie, but people seem to be aware of that. Lady Bird is one of the finest coming-of-age movies that showcases a high schooler’s tumultuous senior year and her growing up into a woman. A lot of people say that it is a semi-autobiographical project of Greta, but I am sure the director wanted all of us to see ourselves through Ladybird. It is an emotionally rich movie that can keep you seated even after it ends.
